Table leaf support operating means



May 26, 1942. v. c. LUPPERT TABLE LEAF SUPPORT OPERATING MEANS Filed Jan. 21, 1941 Patented May 26, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to operating means for a table leaf support.

Usually the supports for the hinged leaf of a table are of such construction as to make it necessary either to reach under the table top for some distance or to stoop down and look under the top in order to lower the leaf.

The primary purpose of the present invention is to combine with supporting means which will automatically lock the leaf in horizontal position when the latter is raised, operating means which will cause unlocking of the support without the necessity of the operator either looking under the top or reaching any great distance under the leaf.

Another object is to supply simple practical means to enable the operator to expeditiously lower the leaf when required.

A further object is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary side elevation of a table top having a hinged leaf and toggle joint and showing my improved hardware connected thereto; the leaf being shown in fully raised position and the hardware being shown in the position occupied in normal position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, partly in longitudinal section and showing the operating means in a position where it is just breaking the toggle joint; this view also showing, in dotted lines, the position of the parts after the leaf has been partially lowered.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a detail on the line 3-3 of Fi 1. v

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates the stationary part of a table top mounted on a conventional frame having an end rail 6. I designates a drop leaf hingedly connected as shown at 8 to one end of the stationary part 5.

A bracket 9 is secured to the rail 8 by any suitable means such as a screw l0, and a similar bracket H is secured to the under-surface of the leaf by means of a screw l2. These brackets are connected by a toggle joint l3 consisting of links M and IS. The inner end of the link I4 is pivotally connected at IE to the bracket 9, and the outer end of the link I5 is pivotally connected at I! to the bracket II. A third pivot I8 connects the two links, and in Fig. 1, it will be noted that when the leaf is in raised position, the pivot l8 will 'be above a straight line joining the pivots l6 and I1, so that the toggle joint will act to retain the leaf in elevated position.

As best shown in Fig. 3, each link is of channel shape cross section to accommodate a coil spring 19 having one of its ends anchored at 20 to the link l5, and its other end anchored at 2| to the link It. Such spring functions not only to pull the links into end to end alignment when the leaf is. raised but functions to yieldingly hold the leaf in its lowered position.

With such toggle joint I employ novel operating means for breaking the joint. Such means preferably consists of a slidable bar 22 arranged at the bottom of the leaf. The bar is preferably provided at one end with a finger-engaging hook 23 positioned adjacent to the outer end 24 of the leaf. The bar is guided by means of a screw 25 secured to the bottom of the leaf and extending through a longitudinal slot 26 in the bar. The bar is normally held in innermost position by a coil spring 21 having one of its ends secured at 28 to the bar and its other end anchored to a screw 29 projecting from the bottom of the leaf. The bar. is provided with a depending finger or cam 30 which when the bar is pulled outwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, functions to engage the upper edge of the link l5 so as to swing the latter in a counter-clockwise direction, and thus cause the pivot pin l8 to move below a straight line joining the pivots l6 and I1, whereby the toggle joint will be broken or collapsed.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand in the use of such mechanism that if the leaf is in lowered position, and the operator grasps the free end of the same and moves it upwardly, the pivot pin I8 will move above the line joining the pivots l6 and n, so that the spring [9 will snap the toggle joint into leaf-supporting position. This movement will not be interfered With by the cam or finger 30 because at such time, the spring 21 will be holding the bar 22 in the position shown in Fig. l.

In order to lower the leaf, the operator simply grasps the hook 23 with one of his fingers and places his thumb upon the end 24 of the leaf. Then as the bar 22 is moved outwardly, the cam 38 will wedge against the link l5 and break the toggle joint. After the leaf is lowered, the spring I9 will yieldingly maintain it in such position.

While I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention in such manner that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the claim.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an extension table of the type having a hingedly connected drop leaf and an end rail arranged adjacent thereto, a relatively long toggle link having one of its ends pivotally connected to said rail, a relatively short toggle link pivotally connected to the under side of said leaf, and a pivot pin connecting the other ends of the links and so located that when the leaf is arranged in a raised position the pivot pin will be above a straight line joining the pivots which connect the links to the leaf and rail respectively, the improvement which comprises a bar slidably connected to the underside 01' said leaf and movable lengthwise of the table top, a'handle secured to the bar and positioned adjacent to the free edge of the leaf, a spring connecting the bar to the leaf and normally holding the bar in a retracted position, and a cam'depending from and secured to the bar, said cam being positioned immediately above said short link and normally being maintained by the spring in a position where it will not interfere with upward swinging movement of the short link, said cam being adapted to engage the short link when the handle is pulled toward the free edge of the leaf, to cause breaking of the toggle joint.

VALENTINE C. LUPPERT. 

